No Exit Essay Topics & Writing Assignments

Essay Topic 1

Punishment and suffering are two major themes in this play, especially in terms of characterizing the three main characters. Chose one of the options below:

A) The characters deserved their punishment as it fit their crimes.

B) The characters did not deserve to suffer the way they did. Their actions in the room should make up for their crimes.

Please chose just one character to write about (Garcin, Inez or Florence) and write an essay that makes an argument for either A) or B) above.

Essay Topic 2

This play relies heavily on foreshadowing. Objects in the room and things the characters say about themselves help prime the audience to understand the layers of denial and misrepresentation through which these characters journey. Chose one of the following options and write an essay that uses specific examples from the text: